Container carrier



Jan. 7, 1964 E. F. BROWNRIGG 3,116,947

CQNTAIIUER CARRIER Filed Oct. 15, 1960 Ebb/29 F Brownrigg INVENTOR.

(yang 3m United States Patent M 3,116,947 CONTAINER CAREER Ebhie F. Brownrigg, San Antonio, Tex. (PB. Box 367, Goldthwaite, Tex), assignor of fifty percent to Robert Q. Beitel, San Antonio, Tex.

Filed (Pet. 13, 1960, Ser. No. 62,371 1 Claim. (Cl. 294-4512) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in container carriers particularly, although by no means necessarily, for various sizes and types of cylindrical vacuum bottles, jars, etc., and has for its primary object to provide novel means for facilitating the handling of such containers.

Another very important object of the present invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a carrier of the aforementioned character which will permit the container to be placed horizontally on a table, for an example, without rolling, thus greatly reducing the chance of breakage.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a carrier of the character described which comprises a single piece of polyethylene or other suitable material and which, further, is adapted to be expeditiously mounted for use on a conventional vacuum bottle or other container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carrier of the character set forth which is adapted to function as a shock absorber should the container be dropped, thereby further reducing the chance of breakage.

A further object of this invention is to provide a carrier which will serve as a handle for tilting the container for conveniently pouring the contents thereof in the manner of a pitcher.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a container carrier which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a container carrier embodying the present invention in position on a conventional vacuum bottle;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE FIGURE 3 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the device per se.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a strap 1 of suitable material, preferably polyethelene. The strap 1, which may be of any desired dimensions, is formed to provide a handle 2.

Formed integrally with the ends of the handle 2 is a pair of flat rings 3. The rings 3 are of an inside diameter to receive and frictionally grip the end portions of a conventional vacuum bottle 4. To facilitate placing the vacuum bottle 4 in a horizontal position, when desired,

3,116,947, Patented Jan. 7, 1964 the rings 3 are provided, at points diametrically opposite the ends of the handle 2, with flat or square-cut base portions 5.

Also formed integrally with the ends of the handle 2 are resilient tongues 6. As shown to advantage in FIGURE 4 of the drawing, the tongues 6 normally project into the rings 3.

It is thought that the use of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, to mount the carrier on the vacuum bottle 4, the rings 3 are slipped on the end portions of said bottle which said rings closely fit. When slipping the rings 3 on the vacuum bottle the tongues 6 are bent inwardly to engage the periphery of the bottle longitudinally. Thus, the tongues 6 are tensioned in an obvious manner for frictionally engaging the vacuum bottle thereby bracing the upper portions of the rings 3 and materially assisting in preventing said rings from moving inwardly when said bottle is being carried by the handle 2.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

In combination, a cylindrical container, and a carrier removably mounted on the container and reversible endfor-end thereon, said carrier comprising a single, normally flat piece of resilient material including a strap, a flat ring integral with each end of said strap, each of said rings being a duplicate of the other and encircling the end portions of the container under tension in inner edgeabutting engagement therewith and frictionally gripping the same, each of said rings being reversible so that either side of each ring may be mounted to face the center of the container, and a resilient tongue extending toward the center of each of the rings integral with the ends of the strap, each of said tongues being bent at an angle to the plane of said rings and engaging the periphery of the container under tension for frictionally retaining the same within the rings and for arching the strap away from the container for providing and supporting an upwardly bowed carrying handle, each of said tongues being bendable so as to project to either side of the plane of the ring towards whose center it extends and projecting inwardly toward the opposite ring While engaging the periphery of the container regardless of how the rings are applied around the container, each of said rings further including flat, transverse outer peripheral portions diametrically opposite the tongues and providing flat bases engageable with a surface for supporting and retaining the container against rolling thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 189,012 Sepe et al Oct. 11, 1960 1,486,967 Kaufman Mar. 18, 1924 2,070,414 Snell Feb. 9, 1937 2,812,968 Sevener Nov. 12, 1957 2,981,562 Long Apr. 25, 1961 

